Capping device for containers

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to a capping device for containers. The capping device can comprise a cap member and a cylindrical base body and can comprise two engagement pairs having two different engagement mechanisms for engaging the cap member and the cylindrical base body. The capping device can be used for containers for liquid material, powder material, particulate material, or a combination thereof.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a capping device for containers. The present invention is particularly directed to a capping device comprising at least two enclosure members and two engagement members that can control a passage for dispensing a content of the container.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Capping devices are typically used for containers to control dispensing of contents of the containers. Many different types of capping devices, such as screw type also known as twist type capping devices, snap-on devices, plug-in devices and other types of devices can be commonly used. Typically, a capping device can be premade with plastic, metal or other suitable materials. Such premade capping device can be inserted through the wall or end of a container and be locked in place by friction, a locking device or adhesive materials. Contents contained in the container can be dispensed through a passage of the capping device when it is open and the passage can be closed when the capping device is closed.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION

This invention is directed to a capping device for a container, said capping device comprising:

a) a cap member (2) comprising a cap end (12) having an inner surface (12 a) and an outer surface (12 b) on opposite sides of said cap end, and a cylindrical cap siding encircling said cap end, said cylindrical cap siding comprises a first enclosure member (13 a) and a second enclosure member (13 b); and

b) a cylindrical base body (3) having an outlet portion (3′) continued with an inlet portion (3″) along a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical base body, and a longitudinal passage (21) therethrough for dispensing a content of the container, said cylindrical base body comprises a first engagement member (16) positioned on an external surface of said outlet portion (3′) for receiving and engaging said first enclosure member (13 a), a second engagement member (15) positioned at an outlet edge of said outlet portion for receiving and engaging said second enclosure member (13 b), and a base insert member (17) positioned at said inlet portion (3″) for affixing said capping device to said container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an example of the capping device (1).

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an example of a cap member (2) of the capping device.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of an example of a cylindrical base body (3) of the capping device.

FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a schematic representation of an example of the capping device with the first enclosure member (13 a) engaged with the first engagement member (16) of the cylindrical base body.

FIG. 5 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a schematic representation of an example of the capping device with the second enclosure member (13 b) engaged with the second engagement member (15).

FIG. 6 shows a schematic representation of a second example of a cap member (2) of the capping device with one or more breakable couplings (19 a).

FIG. 7 shows a partial cross-sectional view of a schematic representation of the second example of the capping device with the first enclosure member engaged with the first engagement member of the cylindrical base body.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic representation of second example of the cap member with the breakable first enclosure member removed forming a snap-on cap (2′).

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of second example of the snap-on cap (2′) engaged with the second engagement member (15) of cylindrical base body.

FIG. 10 shows optional seal support member (11 a) in an example of one cap member (A) and a second example of another cap member (B).

FIG. 11 shows a capping device installed on a container (20). The capping device comprises a circular edge (3 a).

FIG. 12 shows a capping device installed on a container (20). The capping device comprises a polygon edge (3 b).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood, by those of ordinary skill in the art, from reading the following detailed description. It is to be appreciated that certain features of the invention, which are, for clarity, described above and below in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any sub-combination. In addition, references in the singular may also include the plural (for example, “a” and “an” may refer to one, or one or more) unless the context specifically states otherwise.

The term “capping device” used herein refers to a structure for dispensing contents and that can be opened and closed. The capping device can be used together with a container that contains the contents.

This invention is directed to a capping device (1) (FIG. 1) for a container. The capping device can comprise:

a) a cap member (2) (FIG. 2) comprising a cap end (12) having an inner surface (12 a) and an outer surface (12 b) on opposite sides of said cap end, and a cylindrical cap siding encircling said cap end, said cylindrical cap siding comprises a first enclosure member (13 a) and a second enclosure member (13 b); and

b) a cylindrical base body (3) (FIG. 3) having an outlet portion (3′) continued with an inlet portion (3″) along a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical base body, and a longitudinal passage (21) therethrough for dispensing a content of the container, said cylindrical base body comprises a first engagement member (16) positioned on an external surface of said outlet portion (3′) for receiving and engaging said first enclosure member (13 a), a second engagement member (15) positioned at an outlet edge of said outlet portion for receiving and engaging said second enclosure member (13 b), and a base insert member (17) positioned at said inlet portion (3″) for affixing said capping device to said container.

The cap member can engage with the cylindrical base body at the outlet portion, either with the first enclosure member (13 a) or the second enclosure member (13 b), to close the longitudinal passage.

The longitudinal axis of the cylindrical base body (x-x′) (FIG. 3) can also be a rotational axis of the cylindrical base body.

The cylindrical base body can further comprise a breakable enclosure member (18) positioned within said longitudinal passage (21) for closing said longitudinal passage. Typically, the breakable enclosure member can be made of plastics and can be constructed to have thin breakable portion coupling the breakable enclosure member and the inside of the cylindrical base body. The breakable enclosure member can be removed from the cylindrical base body by breaking the breakable portion therefore opening the longitudinal passage.

The first engagement member (16) can comprise a first set of screw thread on the external surface of the cylindrical base body and the first enclosure member (13 a) can comprise a matching screw thread (14) (FIG. 2) that matches said first set of screw thread, wherein the first engagement member and the first enclosure member can be engageable via the first set of screw thread and said matching screw thread for closing said longitudinal passage. In one example, the cap member can be screwed onto the cylindrical base body via the first set of screw thread on the cylindrical base body and the matching screw thread of the first enclosure member on the cap member (FIG. 4).

The second enclosure member (13 b) can comprise an annular engagement rim (11) (FIGS. 2 and 6) for engaging with said second engagement member (15) for closing said longitudinal passage. The cap member can be snapped onto the cylindrical base body so the cap member and the cylindrical base body can be engaged via the annular engagement rim (11) and second engagement member (15). At least one of the second enclosure member and the second engagement member can be flexibly distorted while traversing the other so the second enclosure member and the second engagement member can maintain engaged in a closed position to close the longitudinal passage. At least one of the second enclosure member and the second engagement member can be made of flexible materials, such as plastic, metal, or a combination thereof.

The cap member can be constructed in one piece with said first enclosure member (13 a) encircling said inner surface of the cap end and said second enclosure member (13 b) encircling the outer surface of said cap end. The cap member can close the longitudinal passage with the first enclosure member (13 a) engaged with the first engagement member (16) (FIG. 4). The first engagement member (13 a) can engage or disengage the first engagement member (16) by twisting, typically along the rotational axis. In one example, the cap member can be twisted on and off via the first set of screw thread and said matching screw in the directions shown by rotating arrows (22) (FIG. 4). The cap member can also close the longitudinal passage with the second enclosure member (13 b) engaged with the second engagement member (15) (FIG. 5). The second enclosure member (13 b) can engage or disengage the second engagement member (15) by snapping. In one example, the cap can be snapped on and off by moving in the directions shown by linear arrows (23) (FIG. 5).

Both the first enclosure member (13 a) and the second enclosure member (13 b) can also be constructed to encircle the inner surface of the cap end (12) with the first enclosure member (13 a) positioned distal to said cap end and having a breakable coupling (19 a) between said first enclosure member and said second enclosure member (FIG. 6). The breakable coupling (19 a) can be a continues thin siding coupling the first and the second enclosure members so the cap member can maintain the passage closed while the cap member is in the closed position. The breakable coupling can be broken by tearing. In one example, the breakable coupling can be made of the same material as the cap member, such as plastic or metal. In another example, the breakable coupling can be made of materials different from the cap member. For example, when the cap member is made of plastic, the breakable coupling can be made of metal film or foil. With this structure, the cap member can be engaged with the base body by twisting so the screw thread (14) on the first enclosure member (13 a) can engage the first engagement member (16) (FIG. 7). The first enclosure member (13 a) can be removed from the cap member (2) resulting in a snap-on cap (2′) comprising the cap end (12) and the second enclosure member (13 b) free from the first enclosure member (13 a) (FIG. 8). The snap-on cap (2′) can engage or disengage the second engagement member (15) by snapping. In one example, the snap-on cap (2′) can be snapped onto and off the base body by moving in the directions shown by linear arrows (23) (FIG. 9).

The cap member (2) can further comprise a seal support member (11 a), said seal support member (11 a) and said second enclosure member (13 b) can form a grove for receiving said second engagement member (15) (FIGS. 10A and 10B). The seal support member can provide better seal for the capping device.

The cylindrical base body can comprise a circular edge (3 a) (FIG. 11). The cylindrical base body can also comprise a polygon edge (3 b) (FIG. 12). The polygon edge can have in a range of from 3 to 10 edge sides. In one example, the polygon edge can have in a range of from 4 to 6 edge sides. In another example, the polygon edge can have 4 edge sides. In yet another example, the polygon edge can have 6 edge sides. The polygon edge can be configured to fit a holding tool such as a wrench or a pair of pliers that can help to open or close the cap. The polygon edge can be useful when the cap member is held together with the base body by residues of the contents of the container.

The capping device can further comprise one or more breakable security couplings (19). The security coupling (19) can couple the cap member (2) and the cylindrical base body (3) via structural attachment, adhesion, or a combination thereof. The breakable security couplings can be used to monitor opening of the cap: the security coupling must be broken in order to open the cap or to remove the cap member from the base body.

The cylindrical base body can further comprise a sealing member around the exterior of said base insert member. The sealing member can be plastic, silicon, rubber or any other flexible materials to seal any gaps between the base body and the container wall. The sealing member can also be one or more adhesive materials to affix the capping device to the container.

The content of the container can be liquid material, powder material, particulate material, or a combination thereof. In one example, the content can comprise one or more coating compositions, such as a basecoat composition or a part thereof, a clearcoat composition or a part thereof, a primer coating composition or a part thereof. In another example, the content can be a nail polish composition. In yet another example, the content can be a glue composition or a part thereof. In further example, the content can be a polymer solution. In yet further example, the content can comprise syrup. In even further example, the content can comprise liquid and particles.

The container can be made of metal, glass, plastic, wood, clay, porcelain, or a combination thereof. The container can be a can, a bottle, a jar, a bag, a tank, a box, a case, a vial, a bin, a carton, a drum, or any other device that can store one or more contents.

The capping device can be made of plastic, fiber material, composite material, metal, or a combination thereof. The capping device can be made of flexible materials. The cap member and the cylindrical base body can be made of the same or different materials. Parts of the cap member, such as the first and the second enclosure member and the cap end can be made of the same or different materials. In one example, the cap member can be made of one color of a plastic material and the base body can be made of a different color or different type of plastic materials.

The capping can have an out most diameter in a range of from 0.5 cm to 20 cm. The cylindrical base body can have a thickness in a range of from 0.1 cm to 5 cm. In one example, the capping device can have an out most diameter in arrange of from 1 cm to 18 cm. In another example, the capping device can have an out most diameter in arrange of from 2 cm to 15 cm. In yet another example, the capping device can have an out most diameter in arrange of from 3 cm to 12 cm.

One advantage of the capping device of this disclosure can be that it can comprise two different types of enclosure/engagement member pairs that can have different engagement mechanisms to engage the cap member and the base body to close the longitudinal passage. The screw based enclosure/engagement pair, also referred herein to as the twist type enclosure/engagement pair, can provide tighter enclosure to the container. It can be beneficial for long term storage of the content in the container. The snap-on type enclosure/engagement pair can provide quick and easy opening and closure for the container. The snap-on type enclosures/engagement pair can be especially useful when containers that contain resinous or viscous materials, such as coating compositions or glues that tend to harden or gel after certain period of time. Such materials can spill into the capping device and cause the screw based capping devices to become glued together and difficult to re-open. The snap-on type enclosure as disclosed herein can provide easy and secure closing.

Another advantage of the capping device of this disclosure can be that the capping device can be produced as premade standard units that can be affixed to different types of containers.

Yet another advantage can be that the capping device can be made in different sizes and configurations to fit different containers. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A capping device for a container, said capping device comprising: a) a cap member (2) comprising a cap end (12) having an inner surface (12 a) and an outer surface (12 b) on opposite sides of said cap end, and a cylindrical cap siding encircling said cap end, said cylindrical cap siding comprises a first enclosure member (13 a) and a second enclosure member (13 b); and b) a cylindrical base body (3) having an outlet portion (3′) continued with an inlet portion (3″) along a longitudinal axis of said cylindrical base body, and a longitudinal passage (21) therethrough for dispensing a content of the container, said cylindrical base body comprises a first engagement member (16) positioned on an external surface of said outlet portion (3′) for receiving and engaging said first enclosure member (13 a), a second engagement member (15) positioned at an outlet edge of said outlet portion for receiving and engaging said second enclosure member (13 b), and a base insert member (17) positioned at said inlet portion (3″) for affixing said capping device to said container.
 2. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical base body further comprises a breakable enclosure member (18) positioned within said longitudinal passage (21) for closing said longitudinal passage.
 3. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said first engagement member (16) comprises a first set of screw thread on said external surface and said first enclosure member (13 a) comprises a matching screw thread (14) that matches said first set of screw thread, wherein said first engagement member and said first enclosure member are engageable via said first set of screw thread and said matching screw thread for closing said longitudinal passage.
 4. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said second enclosure member (13 b) comprises an annular engagement rim (11) for engaging with said second engagement member (15) for closing said longitudinal passage.
 5. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said cap member is constructed in one piece with said first enclosure member (13 a) encircling said inner surface (12 a) of the cap end and said second enclosure member (13 b) encircling the outer surface (12 b) of said cap end.
 6. The capping device of claim 1, wherein both said first enclosure member (13 a) and said second enclosure member (13 b) encircle the inner surface (12 a) of said cap end (12) with said first enclosure member (13 a) positioned distal to said cap end and having a breakable coupling (19 a) between said first enclosure member and said second enclosure member.
 7. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said cap member further comprises a seal support member (11 a), said seal support member (11 a) and said second enclosure member (13 b) form a grove for receiving said second engagement member (15).
 8. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical base body comprises a circular edge (3 a).
 9. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical base body comprises a polygon edge (3 b).
 10. The capping device of claim 9, wherein said polygon edge has in a range of from 3 to 10 edge sides.
 11. The capping device of claim 10, wherein said polygon edge has in a range of from 4 to 6 edge sides.
 12. The capping device of claim 1 further comprising one or more breakable security couplings (19).
 13. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said cylindrical base body further comprises a sealing member around said base insert member.
 14. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said content is liquid material, powder material, particulate material, or a combination thereof.
 15. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said container is made of metal, glass, plastic, wood, clay, porcelain, or a combination thereof.
 16. The capping device of claim 1, wherein at least one of said second enclosure member and the second engagement member is made of flexible materials.
 17. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said first enclosure member (13 a) engages or disengages said first engagement member (16) by twisting along a rotational axis of the cylindrical base body (3).
 18. The capping device of claim 1, wherein said second enclosure member (13 b) engages or disengages said second engagement member (15) by snapping. 